New Guinea Pig?! help!

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nedajaffa

nedajaffa

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A year ago, I adopted an adolescent boar. I was told that he was aggressive towards other guinea pigs and had to be separated from them. He doesn't like being handled, but that's fine, we have worked out alternative ways to do things. He is a lovely, inquisitive and curious character who has really begun to bond with me. However, I really think that he needs company from other guinea pigs now. Should I get another guinea pig? Two? Should I even try introducing them or stick with housing them separately? I want to do the right thing for my current piggy, but also any new piggy I get! I would really appreciate any advice or tips.
 
Did you by any chance adopt him from Pets at Home? I remember asking about a boar in their adoption centre once ( I was curious as to why he was there) and was told the same thing which is of course poppycock - they'd sold all of the other males and he was the only one left ( they told me this) and of course they couldn't put a teenage male in with a load of baby boars but they didn't understand that his inability to get on with a group of boars didn't mean he wouldn't do well paired off with a friend he had chosen himself. As for getting two more: NO! Boars are best in pairs not trios. A pair who have chosen each other as friends and have plenty of space ( and two of everything is a good idea too: food bowls, water bottles, snuggles etc so minimise any disagreements) will do fine. Where are you based? There are plenty of rescues who offer "boardating" and if we know your general area forum members can recommend.
 
Don't worry, you'll get plenty of advice here on bonding boars and there are rescues up and down the country who offer piggie-dating. You'll soon find him a friend. :) What's his name btw?
 
I should say that if he is indeed one of the rare piggies who really can't get on with any others then he could still live happily side by side other piggies ina seperate cage but it's worth having a go at dating first and letting him have a chance at finding a friend.
 
Hello

I recommend boar dating at a reputable rescue. Where abouts are you and we can recommend one for you. In boar dating he will get to pick his own friend that he is compatabile with.
 
I have a little boar, Marmite, who lives alone, he was guessed to be at 2 years old and i’ve had him for over a year now, he was adopted from Pets at Home, as an 'aggressive piggy' that couldn’t live with other piggies. His ears are all ripped from previous fights, and from what i guess he’s just been passed from home to home as he had at least 3 homes through Pets at home previously to me, where he was placed with other pigs and just ended up fighting, hence why he was deemed aggressive. I decided he was more suited to a side by side living arrangement just because of the way he was around other piggies he wont settle with them, so he lives in his own cage, just under my other two boys, so he can still smell and wheek with them, and every day i let my boys run around the floor and they say hello to him sort of thing and they chase each other up and down the side of the cage, and that keeps him happy, but as soon as that cage wall isn’t there Marmite just gets really scared and panics again so thats why i find he’s just happier by himself but with someone to talk to :)

It really is one of those things where it just depends on the pig, and you don’t know how they react until you try them with another pig. So as mentioned above, the best thing is to try boar dating, and look for just one other piggy companion, as 3 don’t really get on :) Also, another thing is with older piggies they usually get on best with babies, and lots of rescues end up with pregnant piggies so they may have some little baby boars available, this is usually just because the relationship between the pigs turns into an daddy and baby kind of roll so there is less chance of fighting, but that doesn’t mean your piggy wouldn’t get on with an older piggy too.
 
Would you consider getting him neutered and matching him with a friendly sow?

I would not intentionally get a trio of boars (says the girl who currently has 3 ;) - but I am anticipating having to match one up with another friend). I did once have one sow (Antonia) who was an absolute horror and did not get on with any pig at all - she lived side by side to my other girls (who were the nicest most placid pigs ever). She did seem to enjoy being next to them but she hated being with them. She came from a local rescue, I dont know her back ground.
 
Thank you for all your sensible and helpful advice. This has really helped me (and most importantly Billy Wiggles!) I love the idea of dating and matching him up. Also very interested in hearing other people's experiences of similar situations. If I do get him a friend, I'd need to quarantine him for a period anyway so have the option of side by side living should he really not get along with another piggy. I think choosing him a friend with a suitable personality will be crucial.....Billy will not appreciate a young upstart taking his precious carrots!

P.S I live in West Berkshire
 
Hello

As far as i can tell your closest piggy bank approved rescue is in Burford. Here is a link to the rescue locator to help http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?107473-Recomended-Rescue-Locator.

Please consider boar dating the rescues are very experienced and have often been able to find even the most aggressive boy a pal. If it doesnt work then you could consider neutering to find him a female but be aware neutering will make no difference to his behaviour.

Thanks
 
Thank you, this is really useful information. I'm sure with all this help I'll be able to find Billy the perfect companion!
 
Update! Welcome to Monty! He's an adorable little chap who is very chilled out yet curious. Currently living side by side with Billy. Initial signs are good- both piggies are interested in each other but very chilled out and relaxed in their own home. Weird to say, but think Billy is already different. He seems much more content, spending more time out in the open and is happily coming to me for food. He's even allowing cuddles! Monty has settled in brilliantly! Left him a few days to settle into his new home (with views of a giant pig next door) before handling him. He is happily coming up and feeding from my hands and has spent a lot of time having cuddles. Happy pigs all round!

Poor Billy has not only had to deal with a new upstart peeping into his cage.....he also had to have a bath yesterday!
 
Sounds brilliant that Billy has a new neighbour! Good luck with all bonding attempts, and just remember whatever cage you house them in (preferably over 120cm long) will have to be thoroughly cleaned to reduce the scent of either one of the piggies in, and that wherever they are introduced also needs to somewhere neutral where it doesn’t smell like either piggy!

Hopefully Billy and Monty will get on well.
 
Here's the little chap himself!
Think I will leave it a few weeks (some quarantine time) before I try to introduce the two of them. I aim to take it very slowly
 
Great news! Hope the bonding goes well :)
 
Where did you get Monty from and how old is he? Has Monty dated him or have you just bought him?

Unless you got him from a good rescue that have a mandatory quarantine, you'd best keep them apart for 2-3 weeks to prevent Billy catching anything from Monty.

Here are our information threads on intros and boar behaviour. I wish you the best of luck!
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...FAQ-Introducing-and-reintroducing-guinea-pigs
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?28949-Boars!-Simple-Dominance-Displays-or-Fighting
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?76162-Boars-A-guide-to-successful-companionship
You may also find this thread helpful, as it contains quite a lot descriptions and some videos from intros to judge what is going on with your own boys: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?59233-Boar-Dating-Service-Wales
 
Don't think the upload worked :-( I'll try again.

Thank you wiebke, really useful stuff. I got Monty from a local small scale breeder who I used in the past. He's living in his own cage, and I'm doing the usual quarantine things, washing hands etc etc...not sure Monty will want to wait 3wks though- he's already in great admiration of the big pig he can see.

Billy has calmed down a lot...even allowing a lot of handling. He even allowed me to pick him up from his cage this afternoon- first time ever!
 
Try uploading using photobucket, flickr etc, I think you'll find that's your best bet. ;)
 
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